Corset-busk



(ModeL) W. BOWERS.

Corset Busk. No. 238,642. Patented March 8,1881.

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WILLIAM BOWERS, OFNEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

CORSET-BUSK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 238,642, dated March 8, 1881.

Application filed September 9, 1880. (Model.)

110 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM BOWERS, of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oorset-Busks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use. the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The objects of this invention are to enable the wearer of the corset to which it is attached to adjust and fasten the same with greater facility and neatness than have before been possible, to increase the stiffness and strength of the husks, and to reduce the cost of constructing the corset by doing away with the heretofore necessary clasps.

The invention consists in a corset-husk comhined with the inclosing-cloth in such a manner that the parts can, by being interfolded with one another, substantially as hereinafter shown and described, hold the parts of the corset to which they are attached together, the usual curvature of the husk by which it conforms to the shape of the body aiding materially in the fastening process.

It consists, further, in the combination, with said interfolding parts, of an arm having one end pivoted upon the corsetsteel and adapted to pass over and upon said interfolding parts to form a lock to hold the same in position.

It consists, further, in the combination, with said interfolding parts, of a projecting pintle or lug upon the steel on one side of the husk adapted to fall into engagement with a perforation iu the steel upon the opposite side of the husk, by which the parts of the husk are prevented from sliding vertically upon one another.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in each of the several figures, Figure 1 is a sectional view of the husk on the line 00 0c of Fig. 3, showing the parts opened adapted to be attached to the corset, the same being disconnected, and showing the arrangement of the steels. Fig. 2 is another cross-sectional view on line 22, illustrating the method of combining them. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the parts when connected, also showing the manner of operation of the pivoted arms (I, which hold the parts together more firmly, and also showing the pintle or lug c, which prevents the parts from sliding. Fig. 4 is a section of Fig. 3, taken through line a: m. Fig. 5 is another section of the same, taken through line y y} and Fig. 6 a longitudinal section, showing the husks curved, and illustrating one method of arranging the pintles and holes therefor in the husk.

In carrying out my invention I arrange the steels a b c with the covering f substantially as shown in Fig. 1 in such a manner that they can, by being interfolded, as shown in Figs.2 and 4, hold the two parts of the corset forming the body together when upon the body of the wearer, the usual curve of the steels whereby they conform to the shape of the body preventing the parts from becoming unfolded, and thereby detached. The husk b is curved, preferably, near one end, and tits quite near, edge to edge, to husk 0, so that when it is folded over onto husk c the tendency of husk b is to hold both husks together. if husk a, which is connected to the edge of the other section of the corset, is interposed between husks b and 0, so that they will interfold, the tension of husk b will hold the two sections of the corset together when applied to the body of the wearer, without the aid of clasps or fastenings such as have heretofore been used. The strength of this spring-fastening, as it may he termed, can be increased by curting the husk 0, although it may be straight, and arranging the husks so that when placed edge to edge one will he in reverse order to the other. Still more satisfactory results are attained when the husk (1, attached to the opposite edge of the corset, is curved like unto husks b and c.

If desired, only husks a and I) may be used, they being curved, as described, and it will be found that even they will have tension enough to hold the two parts of the corset together.

By constructing the husks as described I not only have the strength resulting from one husk being placed over or upon another, as heretofore, but I also gain the additional great advantage of causing the busks themselves to serve as the means for holding the sections of the corset together.

Instead of curving the end busks, a and b, the busks next to them may be curved, and so with any other two of the busks employed, the object being to have one busk acted upon by a spring-power that will hold the two busks together.

The steels are pocketed or inclosed in the manner shown in any suitable material.

It is evident that more or less steels than are shown may be used effectively without departing from the spirit or principle of the device, and that the manner of inclosin g or pocketin g the steels may be varied; and, again, that whalebone or any other appropriate material can be substituted for steel, this latter feature being of great importance, as the steel which has been heretofore necessarily used for busks is very liable to and actually does, when in use, rust, and greatly damages and disfignres the corset and the clothing near the same, and, consequently, in the better class of corsets it has been found necessary to cover the steel with kid to obviate the above faults.

Should there be extreme cases where it would be deemed advisable to have additional security to preventthe parts from becoming separated, I have provided pivoted catches or buttons (1, formed, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in such manner as to pass over and upon the interfolding parts to form a lock and to pre- "ent them from unfolding, as will appear from an inspection of the drawings.

To prevent the parts from sliding or working upon the body of the wearer, and to enable them to be at once properly adjusted, I have provided a pintle, e, riveted upon and projecting from one of the steels, between its edges, and adapted to be received by a perforation in the steel, between its edges on the opposite section of the corset, said pintle being shown in Figs. 3, 5, and 6.

By this method of constructing the corsetit will present a better appearance, stronger, the steels not being weakened by perforations in which to rivet the clasps, and all danger from the breaking of the clasps avoided, and the corset adjusted upon the body and removed therefrom with great facility and ease.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a corset having busks curved to conform to the shape of the body, the busks constructed as described and shown, and adapted tobe interfolded and held together, and the corset, when in use, thereby kept in a closed position by the pressure exerted from within, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A corset having curved busks adapted to interfold to hold the two sections together, one of the busks being provided with a pintle between its edges, and the other attached to the opposite section of the corset, and provided with an eye between its edges adapted to connect with the pintle to prevent the "ertical movement of one busk on the other, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a corset, the combination, with busks arranged at or near theedges of the sections of the corset, one or more of said busks being curved and adapted to interfold with each other to hold the sections together, of a button, d, adapted to pass over and upon the interfoldin g parts to form a lock to hold the busks when interfolded, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In combination, a corset having busks a, b, and 0, adapted to interfold to hold the sec tions together, as set forth, one or more of the busks being curved, a pintle, c, and correspondin g eye, and a button, (1, adapted to turn and fit over the busks when interfolded, substantially as set forth.

5. The method of uniting and fastening the opposite sections of a corset by interfoldin g the busks thereof, substantially as herein set forth and shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I 0 have hereunto set my hand.

WM. BOWERS.

W'itnesses OLIVER DRAKE, CHARLES H. PELL. 

